Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-12
Confounding Story TsiIers.

Fr0m the NetO York Sun.
The late Col. Scott OF the War Records
ONCE, who died on Saturday, often eonfound-
ed many story teller. 1t was he who had
tile documents at his elbow to furnish the ex-
act truth in regard TO every battle and cam
pGign, and every order or report IN regard to
them. To him went host of people who
wanted light on the war. A few weeks be-
fore his death Col. scott said: ''Ihere are in
Vulnerable calls on me from officers on both
sides for exact Information. about various
movements and engagements. Most OF them
dral with personal affairs. some fellow v no
led scout wants to hunt up Il report whe re
his name Is mentioned. a Major General is
not often any more sure of facts twenty-five
years Old than private, and "a dispute with
a brother officer sends both here for the rec
ord. 1t not lnfrcquently happens that I'M T.
Willingly deal some of my best friends cruel
blows. A Western Senator came here wear
or so ago and got documents from me that
made Admiral Porter Iidiculously magma
tive. where everybody supposed he was pre-
ci-ely historical, in regard 10 President I'm
coins visit to Richmond at the surren nd r. and
Creep. The greater part of the story turned
out TO be III tiOn. One day an old officer came
rns''". in, and. in an excited tone. ex-
claimed:
Have YOU said WIS not in the second
batte Of Bull Runp'
- Ma, not exactly that | said.
"'Weli. Sob Scott. was told that vou SAID
SO, and came in here to put daylight through
you il you stuck TO IT,"
Ion. no. replied, laughing, Il never said
you were not In that uattie. What said was
that you yourreli, ia an official report dated
the day of the battle, had said you were in
the Cumberland valley, hundred miles from
Centrevlle and Bun Ran.'
"liis eyes looked dizzy and his face was a
% %si aISilatIgu picture OF CONSERVATION;
clerk, who brought fliS officers officiai re-
port, and there In his owe handwriting over
his signature. In black and white, was his
own word that he was not at Bull Run. lie
read the report through twice in silence so
solid you could slice IL. Then he took his hat
and, without word, arose and left the
building.
"A prominent officer OF nv acquaintance
has described often In my hearing, with great
minuteness, the battle of the Monitor and he
Merrimac. He told .he story as an eye-wit-
ness, described HIS hed glass and the point
OF observation, l paid no attention To the
matter until had heard the tale twice, Then
| became curiou. and hunted up the Official
reports made by this officer. | found that il
he saw the Monitor and Merrimac in that
battle his field glass was n most powerful
one. He never saw the Monitor and Msrri-
mac fight, but was at Falls Church the day OF
the battle, II his own reports are to be be-
lleved. There is good deal of fiction in our
war stories.
The greatest number Of inquiries about
war history" said Col. Scott, ''come from
the South. The JOhUnies fought well. and in
the absence OF a good deal else TO give them
satisfaction, take great pleasure in their
lighting. Nearly all the prominent Confed-
crate officers have visited this old building
and hardly day passes that we do not re-
ceive haf dozen letters from Southerners
aBking for information.